You think you party hard?

In class we often make fun of the word "водка" because the Russian's cannot get enough of the stuff. 

In 1945, during World War II, the soviets were approaching the german capitol of Berlin and allies were approaching from the West. Knowing defeat was on Germany's tail, Hitler committed suicide. This caused Karl Dönitz to surrender to the soviets. 

On May 2, the soviets conquered Berlin.

On May 7, Dönitz gave word of their surrender. 

This surrender caused an utmost celebration in Russia, especially in Moscow. By the time Stalin addressed the nation less than a day later, the entire nation had been drunk. Russia partied harder than any of us college kids ever could, eventually depleting the entire nations supply of vodka. 

Picture taken in time square the day the nazi's surrendered. 

References/Links

http://www.omg-facts.com/lists/401/11-F-d-Up-Facts-About-Russia/5

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/may-7-1945-nazi-germany-surrenders-in-world-war-ii/

---Brooke Shepko